"Release the Woman and Catch Me Instead"…Man in His 50s Subdues Knife-Wielding Attacker Barehanded

"Thinking of His Daughter"...
A Man in His 60s Volunteers as a Hostage
Then Subdues the Attacker When He Lets His Guard Down

A man in his 50s who subdued a knife-wielding assailant with his bare hands and rescued hostages at Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan has become a national hero locally.

A hostage taker wearing a black hat went on a stabbing rampage at Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan. Telegram screenshot

According to the UK Daily Mail, on the 7th (local time), an incident occurred at the security checkpoint of the domestic terminal at Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan, where a man in his 60s suddenly went on a rampage wielding a knife after refusing to show his ID to staff.

On that day, the assailant grabbed a female airport staff member by the hair and held a knife to her neck. He also threatened to blow up the airport, claiming there was a bomb in his bag.

At that moment, a man approached the assailant and persuaded him by saying, "Let the woman go and take me instead," becoming a hostage in his place. The man continued a natural conversation with the hostage-taker and seized the opportunity when the assailant let his guard down to disarm him with his bare hands.

The assailant lunged at the man, and they engaged in a physical struggle, but the police joined in and subdued the assailant. The hostage situation was resolved within seven minutes of it starting.

The incident was shared on social media, making the man a local sensation. He was identified as Musa Abdraim (52), a former boxing champion. In an interview with the local Kazakhstani media Tengri News, Abdraim said, "I never thought about becoming a hero. I am a father of two daughters, and it could have been my daughter’s situation. I am glad I could help."

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, issued a statement saying, "The nation awards the state medal to the hero Abdraim, who showed courage and dedication in an extreme situation." Abdraim expressed his gratitude, saying, "I deeply thank President Tokayev and the people for their great attention and honor."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.